Guide

How to check a seller or business in the Philippines before you send money

By the SEENDI team · Updated October 1, 2026 · 7 min read

Sending money home to buy a car, pay a supplier, put down a reservation or invest in a relative’s or friend’s business? When you can’t see the seller or the store yourself, a few checks can save you from losing money. Here’s what to look for.

Red flags to watch for

• You’re pressured to pay fast: “other buyers are waiting”, “the promo ends today”.
• The account you’re asked to pay is in a different name from the seller or business.
• The price is far below what similar items or properties sell for.
• They avoid a video call, or won’t let anyone you know see the item, store or office in person.
• They can only be reached through chat, with no landline, office address or registered business name.
• Documents only arrive as photos or screenshots, never as originals you or someone you trust can see.

Check that the business is registered

• Sole proprietorships register their business name with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). DTI’s Business Name Registration System lets you search registered business names online.
• Corporations and partnerships register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC’s website lets you look up registered companies and also publishes advisories about entities that aren’t allowed to take investments.
• At the place of business, a legitimate store or office normally displays its mayor’s or business permit and its BIR Certificate of Registration. A business that can’t issue an official receipt or invoice is a warning sign.

Confirm the place exists and is operating

Online maps and street-view photos are a useful first look, but images can be years old, and anyone can pin a business on a map. What you want to know is whether, today:

• the address exists and matches what you were told,
• there’s an actual store, office, warehouse or farm there, and it’s operating,
• the people you’re dealing with are actually connected to it,
• any stock, equipment or construction you’re paying for is really there.

The most reliable way is to have someone you trust visit unannounced, take timestamped photos and video, and ask a few simple questions.

Buying a vehicle: extra checks

• OR/CR. Ask to see the original Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration. The name on the CR should match the seller, or the seller should have a signed deed of sale from the registered owner.
• Engine and chassis numbers. The numbers stamped on the vehicle should match the CR exactly. Have someone take clear photos or stencils of both.
• Encumbrance. If the CR shows the vehicle is mortgaged to a bank or lender, it can’t be cleanly sold until the loan is released.
• Registration status. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) can confirm whether the registration is current. A transfer of ownership also normally needs a PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) clearance, which checks that the vehicle isn’t reported stolen.

Pay in a way you can trace

• Pay to an account in the business’s or seller’s own name, not a relative’s or “agent’s” personal account.
• Avoid paying the full amount up front. A deposit, with the rest paid on delivery or transfer, is common practice.
• Get an official receipt or invoice, and keep every message, receipt and transfer record.

If something goes wrong

Report online scams to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) through its 1326 hotline, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, or the NBI. Consumer complaints against registered businesses can also go to the DTI. Report as soon as possible, and keep all your records.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Requirements and fees vary between offices and can change, so check with the office concerned. More about our business verification service · All guides